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Anti-Freeze in Summer

ed broderick_2
ed broderick_2 Member Posts: 11
Knowing the damaging effects of Crytotek anti-freeze in our closed systems, does it pay to drain it in the summer when the system is off and refill with water? And of course refill in the winter when the system is running? We are talking about a small system of 20 gallons? Do we protect any piping, leak prevention?

Comments

  • George_10
    George_10 Member Posts: 580
    Protecting system

    > Knowing the damaging effects of Crytotek

    > anti-freeze in our closed systems, does it pay to

    > drain it in the summer when the system is off and

    > refill with water? And of course refill in the

    > winter when the system is running? We are

    > talking about a small system of 20 gallons? Do

    > we protect any piping, leak prevention?



  • Nron_9
    Nron_9 Member Posts: 237
    weather

    the weather around the world is never to be trusted we droped 25F ovewr night and if your system is just water you run the risk of damageing the piping system , better to test the water for ph and keep corrission to a minimum
  • George_10
    George_10 Member Posts: 580
    Protecting system

    If the system you have has inhibited glycol, then you have corrosion protection built into the fluid. The only replacement value I can see is you will start each season off with fresh inhibited glycol and not take the chance of the glycol breaking down. You, however do create a problem by adding water without any treatment added. Fresh water adds new oxygen to the system as well as allowing for the possibility of bacteria growth while it is unproteced through the summer. The oxygen will begin a corrosion process on the system metals if you have not added treatment.

    If you want this answer from the horses mouth as far as the glycol is considered, contact Drew at Noble Company.
  • hr
    hr Member Posts: 6,106
    ??

    Not sure what you mean by "knowing the damaging effect" Properly checked and maintained, and not allowing it to overheat that fluid should last 15-20 years or more.

    A simple ph check will tell if it is going bad.

    Actually the more you open the system and allow fresh O2 into it the more you compromise the fluid.

    Generally, and especially in non barrier systems, the oxygen inhibitor package in the glyclol gets used up, ph drops and the fluid can become agressive.

    Keep the fluid in, check small samples for ph, or send a sample to Hercules every few years, and add inhibitor package as indicated by the ph test.

    Adding inhibitor boosts WILL be needed with non barrier tubes in a system, especially systems that run high temperatures, as the O2 ingress is related to temperature.

    Ph below 6, in my opinion, may need a dump, flush and refill with new, hydronic specfic, inhibited glycol and good quality blend water.

    Hope this helps. Hercules, Dow, Noble, all have tech support numbers if you need specfic info on a product brand or version.

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